1 ED Reclusion

Emily Dickinson: Reclusion Against Itself

Renunciation is the Choosing
Against Itself (J 745
Emily Dickinson!s "eclusion# the "i$eting cent"al (non %e$ent of he" life#
is so o&t"usi$e as to &lock e$en itself f"om $ie'( In he"# "eclusion $e"ges on
occlusion# &oth 'ith "ega") to its causes an)# mo"e *"o&lematically# 'ith
"ega") to the meaning in Dickinson of "eclusion itself( Ea"ly accounts assume
some "omantic c"ash# fo" 'hich the"e has ho'e$e" &een essentially no
e$i)ence( +o" 'oul) me"e &"oken%hea"te)ness# 'hethe" hete"o% o"
homose,ual# go $e"y fa" in accounting fo" the lite"atu"e Dickinson '"ote(
Dickinson!s "eclusion# as "e*"esente) in he" 'o"k# must instea) &e seen &oth
in te"ms of t"a)itions of 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) an) in "esistance to them(
In)ee)# in many 'ays "eclusion in Dickinson "e*"esents a ne'# -uite o"iginal
stance# in c"itical "elation "athe" than containment 'ithin the meanings of
"eclusion that come &efo"e he"( Dickinson!s "eclusion ma"ks a shift# &oth
su&tle an) e,t"eme# in the histo"y of "eclusion an) its significance# 'hich
e,ten)s *ast he" o'n "et"eat "et"os*ecti$ely to the t"a)ition itself( In this it
suggests ho' any act o" e$ent an) its te"ms may mean )iffe"ently 'ithin
)iffe"ent histo"ical )ist"i&utions(
Dickinson!s *oet"y *"o$i)es a "eco") of he" "es*onses to a 'o"l) she
foun) at times allu"ing# &ut of 'hich she ultimately )isa**"o$e) as )ee*ly
fla'e) an) in)ee) ala"ming( It is not# ho'e$e"# )isa**"o$al of "eality that
. ED Reclusion
makes Dickinson!s "eclusion tho"oughly o"iginal( Disa**"o$al the sense of
an im*e"fect 'o"l) that "e-ui"es some so"t of "a)ical t"eatment to &e ma)e to
e-ual# o" e$en a**"oach# any image of *e"fection o" "e)em*tion ha)# afte"
all# &een the moti$e fo" 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) since its ea"liest "egimens(
/ut he"s is not a "eclusion attesting to inte"io" su*e"io"ity as a final "esou"ce of
intelligi&ility( Rathe"# Dickinson in "eclusion *"otests an) "e&ukes the lack of
)esign in the e,te"nal 'o"l) of *henomena an) e$ents# 'he"e meaning
shoul) "esi)e(
/o"n in 1012 in Amhe"st# 3assachusetts# Dickinson seems to ha$e
*asse) an o")ina"y gi"lhoo) in a *"ominent to'n family( At a"oun) the age of
.0 in the yea" 1050# ho'e$e"# she &egan to )is*lay )istincti$e &eha$io":
sto**ing going out# )"essing in 'hite# s*eaking to $isito"s f"om &ehin)
sc"eens# stai"'ells# o" othe" "ooms4 )eclining to a))"ess the en$elo*es of he"
co""es*on)ence# f"om lette"s to my"ia) con)olence notes to messages to he"
siste"%in%la' ne,t )oo"( An) she of cou"se &egan to '"ite intensi$ely# an) also
to not *u&lish# *oems 'hich she only ci"culate) in *"i$ate lette"s o" se'e) into
small fascicle &ooklets# foun) &y he" siste" 5a$inia on Dickinson!s )eath in
1006( 7hat this "et"eat coinci)e) 'ith the intensifying hostilities an) then
out&"eak of the Ame"ican Ci$il 8a" as )i) he" g"eat out&u"st of *oetic
*"o)uction I ha$e )iscusse) else'he"e(
1
7he 'a"!s "ele$ance he"e is not
only# o" *e"ha*s is *"ecisely# histo"ical( Dickinson!s "eclusion is &o"n in
"eaction against a 'o"l) manifesting itself as un*"e)icta&le# $iolent# an)
te""ifying( 9he ha) sus*ecte) this fo" some time( :e" ea"ly lette"s t"ack he"
i""econcila&le anguish o$e" schoolf"ien)s! )eaths( /ut the 'a"# one shoul)
1 ED Reclusion
imagine# seeme) a final an) o$e"'helming e$i)ence that the 'o"l) in)ee)
'as a &a)ly con)ucte) *lace(
In the histo"y of thought# this is ha")ly ne's( 9t( Augustine# fo"
e,am*le# su"$eying the fall of Rome# ha) long since *"o$i)e) am*le te"ms fo"
sus*ecting the City of 3an( 7his )is*laye) itself as at &est a scene of t"ial# at
'o"st a *unishment 'hich# if *"o*e"ly "ega")e)# coul) act also as *u"gation(
;ollo'ing the *aths lai) out &efo"e him &y <lato (in his 'o"st moo)s an)
+eo*latonists# nota&ly <lotinus# 'he"e the cosmos itself &ecomes a *ath'ay
of int"os*ection4 an)# in Ch"istian conte,ts such as the Dese"t ;athe"s# 9t(
Augustine tu"ne) in'a") an) u*'a") in'a") as u*'a") %% to'a") the City of
=o)( As he '"ites in the Confessions # >you 'e"e mo"e in'a") than the most
in'a") *lace of my hea"t an) loftie" than the highest a&o$e me(>
.
Although
the meta*hysical 'o"l) 'as no longe" to &e *u"sue)# as in <lotinus# &y 'ay of
emanation fi"st )o'n'a") an) then ascen)ing# &ut "athe" &y g"ace4 the
Augustinian )i"ection is nonetheless clea"ly outline) as a )etachment f"om the
e,te"io" 'o"l) fo" an in'a") one acting as sign# la))e"# image an)
*a"tici*ation in the 'o"l) a&o$e the flesh(
1
Con)ucte) 'ith g"eate" o" lesse"
)istaste# g"eate" o" lesse" sus*icion# g"eate" o" lesse" "eg"et# )etachment f"om
the 'o"l) *le)ge) itself to an inne" s*i"ituality facing hea$en'a")s an)
ente"ing# in mo"e o" less o"tho)o, fashion ('ith )eg"ees of unification an)
)eification &eing one of the g"eat *o"tals into he"esy# as it 'as fo" 3eiste"
Eckha"t an) Jaco& /oehme into a highe" an) &ette" 'o"l) than this one of
matte"# time# change an) multi*licity(
7his is a t"a)ition Dickinson &"eaks 'ith an) &"eaks o*en( 9uch
inte"io"# s*i"itual ascents an) e,its a"e not the )i"ections# claims no" ma* of
4 ED Reclusion
Dickisnon!s "eclusion# )es*ite s*ecific *oems an) effo"ts to "ea) he" in such
te"ms( :e"s is not 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) to an inte"io"ity )etache) f"om it
as its anti)ote# o" at least in *"omise of one in a )iffe"ent "ealm( In continuity
'ith the <latonist an) Ch"istian t"a)itions of "eclusion# Dickinson too sees the
*henomenal 'o"l) as 'anting( ?et he" "eaction to it is not the t"a)itional one(
9he )oes not acce*t# o" seek# an inte"io" "ealm as "esolution o" sign o" *ath o"
*"omise of "e)em*tion( In)ee)# she is c"itical of the enti"e )ualist skeleton of
the 'o"l) as a tem*o"al mate"iality se*a"ate)# in an un&"i)gea&le an) sh"ill
manne"# f"om unchanging# inco"*o"eal essence# s*i"it# an) t"uth( :e" "et"eat
)oes not fulfill# &ut "athe" con)emns this )i$ision an) its conse-uent
a&an)onment of this 'o"l) fo" one "emo$e) f"om it# facing a'ay f"om time to
an esca*ist ete"nity( Ce"tainly she sees the fla's of the 'o"l)# 'hich a**ea"s
to he" as a scene 'ith *otential# &ut as f"ighteningly ill%manage)( /ut this
)oes not mo$e he" to su&stitute fo" it a &ifu"cate) e,*e"ience 'hich
"enounces e,te"nal e$ents an) te"ms( Instea) it fills he" 'ith "age at ha$ing to
"et"eat f"om a 'o"l) so com*"omise)( :e" stance is one of f"ust"ation an)
&lame# not least at a )i$ine *o'e" 8ho coul)# she is su"e# ha$e esta&lishe)
c"eation in a mo"e @ust# mo"e ha"monious# less $iolent an) lethal manne"(
8hat she 'oul) like is not a s*litting a*a"t of the -uicksan) *henomenal
'o"l) fo" a sta&le mountain of ete"nity# signale) &y inne" s*i"ituality( Rathe"
she 'ishes an integ"ate) e,*e"ience in the "eality she kno's: of &oth fact an)
meaning# &o)y an) s*i"it# *henomena an) in)ee) as intelligi&ility(
:e" "et"eat# then# is not the "enunciation of a lesse" "ealm fo" a highe"
one# the *hysical fo" the s*i"itual o" fo" the aesthetic fo" that matte"( A"t is
not fo" Dickinson a se*a"ate an) self%constituting "ealm# "e)em*ti$e 'ithin its
5 ED Reclusion
o'n te"ms( It )oes not# on the 'hole# *"o$i)e fo" he" a secu"e enclosu"e o"
"e*"esent one( Rathe" it &ecomes the scene of Dickinson!s anguishe) an)
ang"y "ecognition of the chaotic "eality in 'hich she )'ells( 7his is a 'o"l) in
'hich# as +ietAsche 'as soon afte" lou)ly to *"oclaim# no intelligi&le *"inci*le
can &e )etecte)( ?et the failu"e of intelligi&ility )oes not lea) he"# as it )oes
him# to )ismiss its *ossi&ility an) seek some immanent fo"ce to take its *lace
as he )oes 'ith the 8ill to <o'e"( +o" is he" *osition like his st"aight
con)emnation of the catego"y of ete"nity itself( Dickinson!s cent"al *"o&lem is
not the notion of a 'o"l) of immo"tality an) )i$ine $alues as such# &ut "athe"#
its location( 8hat infu"iates# te""ifies# an) f"ust"ates he" is the lack of sta&ility
an) secu"ity# @ustice an) "e)em*ti$e lo$e 'ithin the 'o"l) she kno's(
Dickinson "ecluses he"self# the"efo"e# not in ho*e of a "e)em*ti$e e,*e"ience#
locate) e,*e"ientially# *enitentially# an) in *"omise as an inne" state "eflecting
an) *a"tici*ating in a s*i"itual one that t"anscen)s the 'o"l) a"oun) he"( :e"s
"athe" is close" to )es*ai" o" "athe"# to )efiance at the 'o"l) that makes such
"et"eat necessa"y( 7he"e is )efiant )efense: to *"otect he"self as much as
*ossi&le f"om the g"a$e )iso")e" 'hich su""oun)s he"( An) the"e is )efiant
attack: to *"otest# to *ummel# to *unish natu"e an) natu"e!s =o) fo" the at
once se)ucti$e yet ultimately &et"aying "eality fo" 'hich he "emains
"es*onsi&le( =o) "emains a cent"al figu"e in Dickinson# as &oth *"otagonist
an) antagonist# infu"iatingly un'illing o" una&le fully to take :is *"o*e" "ole( In
he" $e"se# Dickinson a))"esses =o) "e*eate)ly in longing an) yea"ning
that :e *"o$e to &e 8ho an) 8hat is al'ays sai) of :im4 an) in
)isa**ointment an) )ist"ess that this seems me"e "umo"# cont"a)icte) &y the
chaos that )oes# yes# attest a Cause( :e"s is an a"gument f"om )esign 'he"e
6 ED Reclusion
ho'e$e" the )esign )efaults# lea$ing he" fu"ious at the Designe"( In te"ms of
the t"a)ition# Dickinson!s is not 9t( John of the C"oss!s Da"k +ight of the soul
)ou&ting its o'n 'o"thiness( +o" is he"s 7(9(Eliot!s Da"k +ight )ou&ting the
"eality of =o)# to &e heale) 'ith "ene'e) $ision( Dickinson )oes not )ou&t
=o)!s e,istence( 9he instea) -uestions :is 8ays# 'hich seem to he"
un@ustifia&le( 9he &"ings to the fo"e the 'e))e) *light &et'een theo)icy an)
mysticism# 'he"e "et"eat into s*i"it is offe"e) as anti)ote to the 'o"l)!s
suffe"ing( Dickinson in cont"ast "e@ects a solution to the 'o"l)!s )iso")e" that
is "emo$e) f"om it( 9uch a st"ategy seems to he" eithe" a catego"y mistake
an ans'e" that fails to a))"ess the *"o&lem4 o" f"ank &et"ayal of the *"omise
to 'hich )i$ine ca"e# lo$e# an) )esign *le)ges itself(
7his is not to say that Dickinson has no -ualms( :e" $e"ses AigAag
&et'een effo"ts to fin) he" *lace 'ithin t"a)itions of "eclusion4 an) he" )ogge)
an) stea)fast "efusal to )o so# fo" this 'oul) gainsay he" o'n e,*e"ience of
the 'o"l) an) 'hat 'oul) &e "e-ui"e) to make it make sense( 9*litting off
inne" f"om oute"# s*i"itual meaning f"om conc"ete 'o"l) of histo"y# is to he"
ultimately a manifestation of the *"o&lem of )iso")e" an) not its solution(
7he"e a"e moments 'hen Dickinson attem*ts this t"a)itional solution# casting
he" o'n "eclusion in its *atte"n( 7his t"a)ition she kne' fi"st han) at the $e"y
least th"ough 7homas a Bem*is!s 7he Imitation of Ch"ist# he" 1057 co*y of
'hich is in :a"$a")!s :oughton 5i&"a"y( :o'e$e"# against Richa") 9e'all!s
$ie' that Dickinson foun) in it a *ositi$e mo)el fo" >"enouncing the 'o"l)#
&ea"ing the &u")en# shoul)e"ing the C"oss that is# the sim*le# ste"n life of
the )e)icate) "eligious#> Dickinson!s "elation is com*le, an) c"itical(
4
<oems
such as the one 9e'all cites >7o *ut this 8o"l) )o'n# like a /un)le ( ( (
7 ED Reclusion
7"o))en 'ith st"aight "enunciation> (J 5.7 may "eflect a moo)# o" e,*lo"e
one# o" "egiste" a "es*onse to o" commenta"y on Bem*is itself( 8hat 7homas
a Bem*is offe"s is a se$e"e an) uncom*"omising o**osition &et'een this
'o"l) an) the ne,t# 'ith "eclusion a li$ing in this 'o"l) as if al"ea)y )ea) to it(
As he '"ites in the fi"st cha*te"# >this is su*"eme 'is)om to )es*ise the
'o"l)# an) )"a' )aily nea"e" the king)om of hea$en(> C" again: 7hose >'ho
st"o$e to follo' in the footste*s of Ch"ist ( ( ( hate) thei" li$es in this 'o"l)# that
they might kee* them to life ete"nal(> 7he 9*i"it >s*eaks 'ithin them#> teaching
>to )es*ise ea"thly things an) to lo$e hea$enly4 to fo"sake this 'o"l)# an) to
long fo" hea$en(> C" again# >5ea"n no' to )ie to the 'o"l)# that you may &egin
to li$e 'ith Ch"ist( 5ea"n no' to )es*ise all ea"thly things# that you may go
f"eely to Ch"ist(>
5
Just so Dickinson '"ites:
7h"ough the st"ait *ass of suffe"ing
7he 3a"ty"s e$en t"o)
7hei" feet u*on 7em*tation
7hei" faces u*on =o) (J 7D.
7he feet stan) in the 'o"l) as tem*tation# &ut the face tu"ns a'ay f"om an) in
o**osition against the 'o"l)# to =o)(
;o" Dickinson )oes g"as* Bem*is!s $ision of the 'o"l) as >s'iftly
*assing a'ay#> 'he"e >all things a"e t"ansito"y# all things a"e *assing# an)
you"self 'ith them(> :ence Bem*is u"ges >that you )o not cling to them# lest
you &ecome entangle) an) *e"ish 'ith them(>
6
In)ee)# the alte"nati$es to
"eligion can seem to he" no less unsatisfacto"y# e$en te""ifying( 7he 'o"l)
'ithout =o) is fea"ful( 7his too is "eflecte) in he" "eclusion( An) yet# neithe"
can she a&an)on he" sense of a 'o"l) gone a'"y( 7his lea)s he" once mo"e
to )is*utation# )ismay# an) often )isguise) assault( E$en *oems 'he"e she
0 ED Reclusion
)oes attem*t a "et"eat into an) as t"a)itional in'a") )e$otion mostly conceal
*itfalls:
7he 9oul shoul) al'ays stan) a@a"
7hat if the :ea$en in-ui"e
:e 'ill not &e o&lige) to 'ait
C" shy of t"ou&ling :e"
De*a"t# &efo"e the :ost ha$e sli)
7he /olt unto the Doo"
7o sea"ch fo" the accom*lishe) =uest
:e" Eisito"# no mo"e (J 1255
>Desi"e to &e familia" only 'ith =o) an) his angels#> Bem*is '"ote# >an) )o
not seek the ac-uaintance of men(4> >7he fu"the" the soul 'ith)"a's f"om all
the tumult of the 'o"l)# the nea"e" she )"a's to he" 3ake"( ;o" =o) 'ith :is
holy angels 'ill )"a' nea" to him 'ho 'ith)"a's himself f"om his f"ien)s an)
ac-uaintances(>
7
7his *oem o*ens in a**a"ent ag"eement# as if em&"acing
the inne" sanctum( Recluse) at home# the 9oul stan)s e$e" "ea)y fo" )i$ine
$isitation( As so often in Dickinson# ho'e$e"# the g"amma" of )ecla"ation
*"o$es )elusi$e( 7his *oem is '"itten un)e" the sign of the con)itional: >7hat
if the :ea$en in-ui"e> ()oes >7hat> *oint to an) un)e"sco"e >if>F 3o"eo$e"#
although the 9oul may &e )e)icate) in he" 'aiting# the com*liment is not
"etu"ne) &y the >accom*lishe) =uest(> :e in fact# e$en if he 'e"e to come
calling# 'oul) not 'ait( >/efo"e the :ost ha$e sli) G 7he /olt> the )i$ine
Eisito" is gone(
7he"e is as 'ell a shift in *e"son that has fo" Dickinson la"ge
"esonance( 7he >9oul> is gen)e"e) female4 &ut he" "ole as >:ost> is gen)e"e)
male( In)ee)# the line >:e 'ill not &e o&lige) to 'ait> is itself am&iguous# as
to 'hethe" it is the 9oul o" :ea$en 'ho is left 'aiting( Anothe" "eclusion
*oem intensifies this gen)e" am&iguity:
D ED Reclusion
7he 9oul that hath a =uest
Doth sel)om go a&"oa)
Di$ine" C"o') at :ome
C&lite"ate the nee)
An) Cou"tesy fo"&i)
A :ost!s )e*a"tu"e 'hen
H*on :imself &e $isiting
7he Em*e"o" of 3en (J 674
:e"e the 9oul a'aits at home as anyone hosting a >=uest> 'oul) )o( >Di$ine"
C"o')> is am&iguous( It coul) )esc"i&e a 'on)e"ful g"ou* of $isito"s# o" one
*"o*e"ly )i$ine# as is suggeste) in the last line!s >7he Em*e"o" of 3en(> ?et
the t"ansition f"om stanAa to stanAa# although taking the fo"m of analogical
a"gument# is in fact hy*othetical an) con)itional( 7he fi"st stanAa s*ells out
the eti-uette of hosting# not the actuality4 'hile the secon) stanAa is again
un)e" the sign of con)itionality# in the t"ickie" fo"m of >'hen> 'hich ho'e$e" is
he"e e-ui$alent to if( ;inally# the 9oul is clea"ly ma"ke) as male in gen)e": as
:ost >:imself(>
Dickinson!s 'o"k offe"s a "ich fiel) of in$estigation into the im*lications
of gen)e" in *"o@ecting "elationshi*s 'ith =o)( >7he Em*e"o" of 3en> is
o&$iously male( 8hat of the 9oul 'aiting to "ecei$e :imF Dickinson
"e*eate)ly e,*lo"es the 'ays in 'hich "elationshi* 'ith =o) $a"ies 'ith
gen)e"( 7he a**"oach to the )i$ine that "eclusion ho*es to enact 'o"ks one
'ay# Dickinson suggests# 'hen &oth =o) an) 'o"shi**e" a"e male( 7his
allo's a kin) of i)entification that is not *ossi&le 'hen the 'o"shi**e" is
female( +ot only g"ammatical i)entity# &ut social an) of cou"se se,ual "oles
alte" as images fo" an) in)ee) *aths of "elation to =o)( 7his of cou"se also
o*ens a social si)e to Dickinson!s "e*"esentations( In a *oem such as >I!m
+o&o)y#> he" most en)ea"ing "eclusion *oem# Dickinson cannily com*lains
12 ED Reclusion
that the alte"nati$e to seclusion is comme"cial e,*loitation: >Don!t tellI 7hey!)
a)$e"tise you kno'I> (J .00(
0
C"iti-ue of Ame"ican mate"ialism# at @ust this
time comman)ing the attentions of he" contem*o"a"ies Eme"son an)
7ho"eau# ma"k many Dickinson $e"ses in a g"eat "ange of economic image"y(
7he *oem >8hat 9oft Che"u&ic C"eatu"es G 7hese =entle'omen a"e (J
421 "egiste"s )is)ain fo" the eme"gent )omestic la)y 'hose Dickinson!s o'n
"eclusion at once echoes an) e,*oses( ?et Dickinson!s conce"ns a"e most
*e"$asi$ely meta*hysical# 'hose te"ms continue to )efine fo" he" any
ultimate accounts an) @ustifications of social an) histo"ical life( ?et gen)e"
"emains a cent"al catego"y of he" meta*hysical imagination an) )is*utes( In a
*oem such as >7itle Di$ine is mine#> Dickinson imme)iately mo$es f"om this
claiming of )i$ine title as he" o'n ('ith no )ou&t a fu"the" *un on '"iting an)
he" o'n status as *oet to the -ualification: >7he 8ife 'ithout the 9ignI> (J
127.( :e"e to &e# as she goes on to say# >Em*"ess of Cal$a"yI> i(e(
"emo$e) f"om the 'o"l) is still to &e associate) 'ith )i$inity at one "emo$e(
>7itle Di$ine> suggests )i"ect claim to i)entity4 &ut 'ife is a )e"i$e) an)
me)iate) status( Dickinson!s 'o"k inclu)es a se"ies of >'ife> *oems (often
'ith the 'o") in -uotation ma"ks in 'hich the meanings of the te"m is
conteste)# not only in social te"ms (an) of cou"se Dickinson ne$e" 'as one
&ut as these a"e continuous 'ith# &oth "eflecting an) const"ucting# the
"eligious histo"y of 'ifehoo) as a *a"ticula" )e$otion to =o)( Dickinson!s o'n
consciousness of this t"a)ition is clea"ly atteste) in >Cnly a 9h"ine:>
Cnly a 9h"ine# &ut 3ine
I ma)e the 7a*e" shine
3a)onna )im# to 'hom all ;eet may come#
Rega") a +un
7hou kno'est e$e"y 8oe
11 ED Reclusion
+ee)less to tell thee so
/ut can!st thou )o
7he ="ace ne,t to it healF
7hat looks a ha")e" skill to us
9till @ust as easy# if it &y thy 8ill
7o thee ="ant me
7hou kno'est# though# so 8hy tell theeF (J D10
?$o" 8inte"s famously "ema"ke) that Dickinson!s *light 'oul) ha$e &een
"esol$e) if she coul) only ha$e &een &o"n Catholic(
D
7his a**eal# ho'e$e"#
sol$es nothing in this te,t( 9he ackno'le)ges the o&$ious: that a 'oman
"ecluse )"esse) in 'hite ine$ita&ly &"ings to min) the figu"e of the +un( /ut
the o&$ious in Dickinson ten)s to &e o&scu"ing( :e"e she imagina"ily lights
he" ta*e" to the 3a)onna# a**ealing to he" as me)iating figu"e an) channel of
g"ace( ?et he"e# as )iffe"ently in the :ost *oem (J 674 'he"e =o) in fact
)oes not $isit# the 3a)onna in fact )oes not ans'e"( =enuine healing looks
instea) >a ha")e" skill#> an)# e$en if Dickinson!s u&i-uitous con)itional the
3a)onna shoul) so 'ill things (assuming she e,ists the *oem en)s not in
g"ant o" e$en a**eal# &ut "athe" in inte""u*tion an) self%silencing(
12

3ost Dickinsonian a**"oaches a"e to =o) as clea"ly male# although
$a"ying in he" human gen)e"ing( 7he e"otic *lays its full *a"t# as it )oes in the
t"a)ition4 an) "eclusion can &e figu"e)# as t"a)itionally fo" 'omen# as
ma""iage( In Dickinson# ho'e$e"# ma""iage itself is a $e"y conteste) state
(although *oems such as >3ine &y the Right of the 8hite Election> (J 5.0
fulfill the t"a)itional schema( As a t"o*e fo" "eclusion# it no longe" signals
)e$otion an) contact 'ith the )i$ine as against the 'o"l)# &ut a se-ueste"ing
f"om &oth =o) an) 'o"l)# &oth of 'hich ha$e &ecome se$e"ely com*"omise)(
7he"e can still &e an e"otics of inte"*lay# &ut less as fli"tation than "etaliation:
8e shun it e"e it comes#
Af"ai) of Joy#
1. ED Reclusion
7hen sue it to )elay
An) lest it fly#
/eguile it mo"e an) mo"e
3ay not this &e
Cl) 9uito" :ea$en#
5ike ou" )ismay at theeF (J 1502
A *oem of am&i$alence# Dickinson he"e offe"s a gene"al st"uctu"e of
e$asion(
11
9he )esi"es yet fea"s )esi"e# an) es*ecially its )isa**ointment(
Cou"tshi* is *"o*ose) as one image fo" this e$asi$e )esi"ing that is#
cou"tshi* ne$e" consummate)( ?et the *i$otal figu"e eme"ges in the en) as
"eligious( It is =o) 'ho is mo)el cou"tie"# an) it is :is o*a-ue una$aila&ility
that g"oun)s the )isa**ointment as 'ell as he" o'n "eci*"ocal &eha$io"( ;o"
=o)# she sus*ects# is :imself a Recluse( :e" "eclusion thus &ecomes an
image an) enactment not of access to the )i$ine &ut its im*asse( =o) is not
fo"thcoming to he"4 an) no" is she to him( 8ith)"a'al &ecomes 'ithhol)ing
a $e"y st"ange "en)e"ing of )i$ine "eflection# not as lo$e &ut as its &et"ayal o"
failu"e(
Cne of Dickinson!s com*laints# then# is that the *"omise of s*i"ituality is
not fulfille)( Reclusion is then )efensi$e measu"e( As she '"ites succinctly#
>7he 3issing All *"e$ente) 3e G ;"om missing mino" 7hings> (J D05( /ut it
is also agg"essi$e# a site f"om 'hich to launch he" in)ignation at the failu"e of
"e)em*ti$e *"omise( 7his is a failu"e not only of "e)em*tion to take *lace# &ut
of its $e"y st"uctu"e an) natu"e( Dickinson is ang"y not only &ecause the
*"omise) "e)em*tion is not fo"thcoming# &ut &ecause it is faulty( 7his is the
sense of he" ea"liest lette"s )u"ing 'hich she e,amines he" o'n "esistance to
con$e"sion in 'hat 'as the height of the 9econ) ="eat A'akening( ;i"st
the"e# an) su&se-uently th"ough he" co""es*on)ence# she feels sta"k
o**osition &et'een the 'o"l)s as a ha"sh an) un@ust choice( >I ha$e *e"fect
11 ED Reclusion
confi)ence in =o) an) his *"omises# an) yet I kno' not 'hy# I feel that the
'o"l) hol)s a *"e)ominant *lace in my affections> (5 11 she '"ites in one
ea"ly lette"( 5ate" she '"ites: >I 'on)e" often ho' the lo$e of Ch"ist is )one
'hen that &elo' hol)s so> (5 .6.( 5ate" still she is still &ol)e": >Is =o) lo$e!s
A)$e"sa"yF> (5 7D.( 7homas a Bem*is might 'a"n to >Bee* you"self f"ee
f"om all 'o"l)ly entanglement ( ( ( the soul that lo$es =o) "ega")s as
'o"thless all things othe" than =o)(>
1.
Dickinson can counte":
7he 'o"thlessness of Ea"thly things
7he Ditty is that +atu"e 9ings
An) then enfo"ces thei" )elight
7ill 9yno)s a"e ino")inate (J 1171(
7he conclu)ing cle$e" *un against o")ination tu"ns this 'a"ning of
'o"thlessness into a cont"a"y en)o"sement of natu"e!s )elights( 9imila"ly a"t#
in the fo"m of music# is >Ea"th!s co""o&o"ation#> summoning us >to something
u**e" 'ooing us G /ut not to ou" C"eato"> (J 1402(
As to those as*ects of the 'o"l) that she )i) in)ee) fin) unacce*ta&le#
meta*hysical const"uctions of anothe" 'o"l) seems to he" to fail to a))"ess
them( :e" 'o"k affo")s many *oems of meta*hysical c"iti-ue( >7hei" :eight
in :ea$en comfo"ts not#> she '"ites in one *oem4
7hei" =lo"y nought to me
!7'as &est im*e"fect as it 'as
I!m finite I can!t see (J 6D6
;"om he" finite *osition# she cannot >see> the >=lo"y> of hea$enly "e'a")
'hich the"efo"e >comfo"ts not(> ;o" he"# the >im*e"fect> is &est# the 'o"l) she
inha&its o" 'oul) &e# if it only 'e"en!t so su&@ect to change# time# an) )eath(
7he only ete"nal *o'e" of 'hich she has )i"ect e$i)ence is that of )eath itself:
14 ED Reclusion
>7hou only camest to mankin) G 7o "en) it 'ith =oo) night (J 155.( 7his is
a =o) 'ho gi$es only to >take a'ay 7he 5o$e)> (J 00.( :e" *"aye"s then
take st"ange tu"ns(
9ome 8"etche) c"eatu"e# sa$io" take
8ho 'oul) e,ult to )ie
An) lea$e fo" thy s'eet me"cy!s sake
Anothe" :ou" to me (J 111
:ea$en eme"ges not as sal$ation# &ut as com*etito" that )"ains meaning f"om
ou" 'o"l) &ut fails to *"o$i)e any satisfacto"y othe":
+o Cthe" can "e)uce
Cu" mo"tal Conse-uence
5ike the Remem&e"ing it &e nought
A <e"io) f"om hence
/ut Contem*lation fo"
Contem*o"aneous +ought
Cu" 9ingle Com*etition
Jeho$ah!s Estimate( (J D0.
7he *e"s*ecti$e of the othe" 'o"l) "e)uces this one to nought( /ut this# fa"
f"om ele$ating ou" e,*e"ience an) en)o'ing it 'ith $alue# se"$es instea)# as
+ietAsche insiste)# to em*ty it# yet 'ithout *"o$i)ing a $ia&le an) accessi&le
su&stitute( 9eeking to contem*late he" o'n >Contem*o"aneous> e,*e"ience
f"om )i$ine *e"s*ecti$e as nought# she instea) comes to the $ie' that this is
in *"actice >Jeho$ah!s Estimate> in com*etition against he" o'n( /ut 'hat
=o) offe"s is i""ele$ant an) ultimately only "e)ucti$e# not "e)em*ti$e# of
ea"thly life:
8hen 'e ha$e cease) to ca"e
7he =ift is gi$en
;o" 'hich 'e ga$e the Ea"th
An) mo"tgage) :ea$en
/ut so )ecline) in 'o"th
!7is ignominy no'
7o look u*on (J 1726
15 ED Reclusion
7his 'o"l)# as a *"ice to *ay (an) Dickinson!s uses of economic image"y a"e
es*ecially ace"&ic is a s'in)le( An) to ha$e to gi$e u* the ea"th as mo"tgage
to hea$en finally "e)uces the $alue of hea$en itself(
An) yet# fo" Dickinson# neithe" is this 'o"l) alone enough( 8ithout
Ete"nity >not any ;ace cohe"e Hnless conceale) in thee> (J 14DD( Death
'ithout "ecou"se "en)e"s all a"oun) us >7he s*ect"e of soli)ities G 8hose
su&stances a"e san)> (J 1127( >8ithout this the"e is nought#> she '"ites4
an) although in the *oem it is ne$e" clea" 'hethe" >this> "efe"s to this 'o"l) o"
the ne,t one# the *oem a"gues that neithe" can &e com*lete 'ithout the othe"(
>I coul) not ca"e to gain G A lesse" than the 8hole(> An) yet# they "emain
mutually e,clusi$e( In the en) she can only >'ishJ K a 'ay might &e G 3y :ea"t
to su&)i$i)e> (J 655(
11

It is this image of )i$ision that *e"ha*s mo"e than any othe" go$e"ns
Dickinson!s figu"es of "eclusion:
Renunciation is a *ie"cing Ei"tue
7he letting go
A <"esence fo" an E,*ectation
+ot no'
7he *utting out of Eyes
Just 9un"ise
5est Day
Day!s ="eat <"ogenito"
Cut$ie
Renunciation is the Choosing
Against itselfL
Itself to @ustify
Hnto itself
8hen la"ge" function
3ake that a**ea"
9malle" that Co$e"e) Eision :e"e (J 745
7he most "ema"ka&le thing a&out this *oem is the 'ay it seems almost a
c"ee)al )ecla"ation an) )efinition of "eclusion# &ut *"o$es to &e utte"ly
16 ED Reclusion
conflicte)# "et"acti$e# an) to"n in its stances to'a") "enunciation an) 'hat this
)oes an) )oes not o&tain( Es*ecially confusing a"e the te"ms of measu"e(
7he fi"st stanAa follo's t"a)ition in *"o*osing &lin)ness to the e,te"nal 'o"l)
as the *"ice to *ay fo" s*i"itual $ision( As 7homas a Bem*is '"ites# >9t"i$e to
'ith)"a' you" hea"t f"om the lo$e of $isi&le things# an) )i"ect you" affections
to things in$isi&le(> In$isi&ility in tu"n is sign of inte"io"ity( 7he saints >cling to
=o) in thei" inne"most hea"ts(> >7he Bing)om of =o) is 'ithin you#> the"efo"e
>fo"sake this so""y 'o"l)# ( ( (lea"n to tu"n f"om 'o"l)ly things an) gi$e
you"self to s*i"itual things# an) you 'ill see the Bing)om of =o) come 'ithin
you(> ;o" >/lesse) a"e the eyes that a"e close) to out'a") things &ut
a"eo*en to in'a") things(>
14
9o Dickinson too en@oins >7he letting go> of
imme)iate# *"esuma&ly conc"ete ><"esence> as lesse"# fo" the sake of the
>E,*ectation> of an in$isi&le &ut g"eate" an) &ette" 'o"l)# an) as *"ole*tic
*a"tici*ation in it( >7he *utting out of Eyes> 'ill &lock out the $isi&le >Day> of
the e,te"nal 'o"l)# lest it >out$ie> the inte"io" $ision of >Day!s ="eat
<"ogenito"(>
7hat this act of "enunciation an) "eclusion is *ainful# "e-ui"ing sac"ifice
an) se$e"ing f"om attachments an) hence is a >Choosing against itself> is not
an a"gument against "enunciation &ut a )efining element of it( It is to >count
all ea"thly things as )ung#> in Bem*is!s 'o")s# an) >"enounce his o'n 'ill fo"
the 'ill of =o)(>
15
5ess clea" as the *oem *"ocee)s is 'hat in the en) has
&een gaine)( >5a"ge"> an) >9malle"> a"e in a sense the cent"al te"ms of
"enunciation as e,actly the *a"a)o,ical e,change &et'een 'hat seems
g"eate" the 'o"l) &ut is "eally smalle" than the s*i"itual life 'hich )eman)s
its sac"ifice( ?et in the secon) stanAa they )on!t -uite line u* 'ith the te"ms
17 ED Reclusion
*"o*ose) in the fi"st one# a confusion fu"the" confoun)e) &y unclea"
"efe"ences fo" the )eictic >that(> Is >la"ge" function> the e,te"io" 'o"l) of
>Day#> 'hose lu"e is "egiste"e) in the $e"y th"eat to >out$ie> its >="eat
<"ogenito"F> 7his 'oul) &e *a"allel in se-uence to the ea"lie" g"ammatical
o")e"( C" is it >Day!s ="eat <"ogenito"> that is >la"ge"F> /ut this might make
the e,te"io" 'o"l) only >a**ea"> smalle"# as a illusion o" mismeasu"ing( C"
again# )oes the >Co$e"e) Eision> "efe" to >E,*ectation#> that is# 'hat is yet to
comeF /ut ho' can it then &e >:e"e#> 'hich seems to "ecall the ><"esence>
of this 'o"l)F A&o$e all# if e$e"ything is clea" in the *oem!s te"ms of
e,change# 'hy is it so ha") to tell 'hich is 'hichF Renunciation is a choosing
against itself in the t"a)itional sense of the human 'ill!s self%)enial in
su&@ection to =o)!s( /ut it is also a choosing against "enunciation itself#
'hose @ustifications the *oem at once "e*"esents an) o$e"tu"ns(
7his so"t of o&fuscation gene"ally st"uctu"es Dickinson!s "eclusion
*oems( >A <"ison gets to &e a f"ien)#> she )ecla"es else'he"e( ?et# if the
s*eake" comes to feel >a Binsmanshi*> &et'een the *"ison 'alls! ><on)e"ous
face G An) Cu"s#> she )oes so at &est as concession:
8e lea"n to kno' the <lanks
7hat ans'e" to Cu" feet
9o mise"a&le a soun) at fi"st
+o" e$e" no' so s'eet
8hat the *oem )oes t"ace is e$e"y st"icte" an) na""o'ing ci"cles:
As *lashing in the <ools
8hen 3emo"y 'as a /oy
/ut a Demu"e" Ci"cuit
A =eomet"ic Joy
7he <ostu"e of the Bey
7hat inte""u*t the Day
7o Cu" En)ea$o" +ot so "eal
7he Cheek of 5i&e"ty
10 ED Reclusion
As this <hantasm 9teel
8hose featu"es Day an) +ight
A"e *"esent to us as Cu" C'n
An) as esca*eless -uite
7he na""o' Roun) the 9tint
7he slo' e,change of :o*e
;o" something *assi$e" Content
7oo stee* fo" looking u*
7he 5i&e"ty 'e kne'
A$oi)e) like a D"eam
7oo 'i)e fo" any +ight &ut :ea$en
If 7hat in)ee) "e)eem (J 65.
7his *oem &elies >7o Althea f"om <"ison>s *le)ge that >9tone 'alls )o not a
*"ison make(> :e"e they )o# in an ela&o"ate "eflecti$e figu"e 'he"e the *"ison
&ecomes a mi""o" of the self# 'hose ><hantasm 9teel> "eflects >featu"es ( ( (
as Cu" C'n(> An) this "eflection is >esca*eless(> Inte"io"ity is not f"ee f"om
its ci"cumstances# &ut se$e"ely ci"cumsc"i&e) &y them( An) the "et"eat into
utte" selfhoo) &ecomes self%"eflection as t"a*( 7he ci"cle image"y on the one
han) "e@ects Eme"son!s# 'ith its $ision of e$e" e,*an)ing selfhoo)# each
$e"sion outst"i**ing an) in fact a&an)oning the one &efo"e( :e"e the"e is
cont"action# not e,*ansion( 7he self itself *"o$es a na""o' ci"cle in)ee)( Cn
the othe" han) (o" is it the same oneF the *oem goes against the ci"cle
image"y of t"a)ition# 'he"e# f"om <lotinus th"ough Dionysius# f"om Augustine
th"ough 7homas a Bem*is# the @ou"ney u*'a") is one of inte"io" cont"action(
?et he"e inte"io"ity "emains# o" "athe" inc"easingly &ecomes# a >Demu"e"
ci"cuit#> mo"e const"icti$e f"om an ea"lie" f"ee)om image) >As *lashing in the
<ools G 8hen 3emo"y 'as a /oy(> Is &oyhoo) an image meant to o**ose
gi"lhoo)F Is Dickinson!s *"ison he" female &o)yF In any case# its s*ace
1D ED Reclusion
cont"acts "athe" than e,*an)s th"ough time# a >na""o' Roun)(> Inte"io"ity is
not la"ge"# &ut smalle"(
7he *oem!s en)ing 'ith >5i&e"ty> *oints Dickinson!s "eclusion *oems in
yet a fu"the" )i"ection( Cne 'ay the -uestion of "eclusion "ecu"s th"ough
*hiloso*hical histo"y is as a )e&ate &et'een the acti$e an) the contem*lati$e
life( /eginning in <lato!s ca$e 'ith the *hiloso*he"!s "eluctance to "etu"n f"om
sunlight to sha)o's4 an) fo"mulate) e,*licitly in A"istotle!s +ichomachean
Ethics /ook M# the *"o&lem of 'hat constitutes the goo) life is to"n &et'een
e,clusi$e theo"etical contem*lation as fulfilling the most )istincti$e an) hence
highest human faculty# "eason4 as against a mo"e inclusi$e notion of
ha**iness that 'oul) a)mit a $a"iety of as*ects of the *e"son# inclu)ing *u&lic
*a"tici*ation(
16
Dickinson seems e,t"eme in he" choice of the secon)# inte"io"#
contem*lati$e mo)el( /ut in he"# inte"io"ity &ecomes a *"ison# not a li&e"ation(
A *"omise) con$e"sion of inte"io"ity to e,*ansion is not accom*lishe)( 7his
*oem thus conclu)es 'ith *"ofoun) misgi$ing( Rathe" than offe"ing &lissful
contem*lation of an inne" 'o"l)# the s*eake" seems to &ea" 'itness to a
*"o&lematic oute" one( 7he *oem# '"itten in 106.# conclu)es 'ith >5i&e"ty>
an a&solutely *i$otal te"m a"oun) 'hich the Ci$il 8a" itself "e$ol$e)# )efine)
in cont"asting 'ays in 9outh an) +o"th: li&e"ty to o'n sla$es# as against thei"
claim to f"ee)om(
17
In the *oem# the still *e"sonifie) >Cheek of 5i&e"ty> seems
>+ot so "eal> as the *"ison!s "eflecti$e ><hantasm 9teel(> In)ee)# in the last
stanAa# li&e"ty itself seems th"eatening a moti$e fo" "et"eat into the *"ison in
the fi"st *lace( ;o"# if un&oun)e)# it is >7oo 'i)e fo" any +ight &ut :ea$en(>
:e"e e,tent &ecomes o$e"'helming# fo"mless# 'ithout )i"ection# an) hence
nee)ing "escue &y :ea$en( ?et :ea$en in tu"n is figu"e) ominously as
.2 ED Reclusion
>+ight(> In its o**osition to the 'o"l)# it is mo"eo$e" e,*e"ience) as
im*"isonment( In this 'ith)"a'n state the *oet "emains unce"tain of futu"e
"e)em*tion# an) un"e)eeme) in the *"esent# in its so high cost: a >slo'
e,change of :o*e G ;o" something *assi$e"(> Content he"e is
in)istinguisha&le f"om "esignation o" )es*ai"( 7he a**eal to :ea$en is so
costly in its "e-ui"ements that it consumes the $e"y *"omise of "e)em*tion it is
meant to in$oke(
Dickinson!s *e"ha*s most e,u&e"ant "eclusion *oem is:
I D'ell in <ossi&ility
A fai"e" :ouse than <"ose
3o"e nume"ous of 8in)o's
9u*e"io" fo" Doo"s
Cf Cham&e"s as the Ce)a"s
Im*"egna&le of Eye
An) fo" an E$e"lasting Roof
7he =am&"els of the 9ky
Cf Eisito"s the fai"est
;o" Cccu*ation 7his
7he s*"ea)ing 'i)e my na""o' :an)s
7o gathe" <a"a)ise (J 657
:e"e 'e fin) a "eshuffling of te"ms( Religious "eclusion seems *"etty
tho"oughly e,change) fo" an aesthetic one(
10
><ossi&ility> &ecomes# in
cont"ast against ><"ose#> a figu"e fo" *oet"y( An)# as against >E,*ectation> in
the >Renunciation> *oem# e$en though *ossi&ility &y )efinition is not
imme)iately *ossesse)# yet he"e its *"omise an) e,*ansion *enet"ates
imme)iate e,*e"ience as *"esent )elight: as she goes on to say# >Cf Eisito"s
the fai"est(> ?et the aesthetic e,*e"ience# in )is*lacing the "eligious one#
inco"*o"ates its te"ms( 7he secon) stanAa allu)es to >Ce)a"s#> the *illa"s of
the Je"usalem 7em*le# an) claims an >E$e"lasting Roof#> suggesting not only
a chu"ch &ut the afte"'o"l) itself( 7he thi") stanAa!s >Eisito"s> simila"ly seem
.1 ED Reclusion
to )is*lace o" inco"*o"ate )i$ine $isitation# as fo" e,am*le the >Di$ine" C"o')>
of >7he 9oul that stan)s A@a"(> 7his time# the 'aiting 'as not $ain( As to
>Cccu*ation#> might this suggest the <"otestant notion of calling# in 'hich
'o"l)ly 'o"k ac-ui"es# un)e" =o)# "eligious meaning# thus healing the &"each
&et'een acti$e an) contem*lati$e an) "e*u)iating the monastic# "eclusi$e
t"a)ition as *osing inte"io"ity )iamet"ically against e,te"io" *u"suitsF As
anothe" *oem attests# >7he <"o$ince of the 9a$e) G 9houl) &e the A"t 7o
sa$e> (J 51D( 7hus# in act o" >A"t#> it &ecomes *ossi&le fo" >na""o' :an)s G
7o gathe" <a"a)ise(>
It is inte"esting nonetheless to note that the image"y of the *oem
affi"ms# o" at least a)o*ts "eclusion( 7he *oet is still situate) in a >:ouse#>
'he"e she "emains( 7his house figu"ation st"uctu"es the e,te"io" 'o"l)( E$en
the >9ky> is "e*"esente) as >=am&"els#> a featu"e of +e' Englan) "oofing(
An) the Ce)a" >Cham&e"s> "emain >Im*"egna&le of Eye(> Does imagination#
like s*i"it# &elong to the in$isi&le an) not $isi&le 'o"l)F ><a"a)ise> itself#
'hethe" aesthetic o" "eligious o" some othe" emotional state# is still "ecei$e)#
an) f"ame) if not measu"e) &y >na""o' :an)s(> :an)s# as a t"o*e fo" '"iting#
"eaffi"ms the *oems o*ening *oetic gestu"e( Reclusion then &ecomes an
image fo" a human con)ition that# e$en 'ithout "enouncing its *ossi&le
)omains# "emains ine$ita&ly limite)( ?et this limitation may attest $a"ious
kin)s of *ossi&ility# ones that a"e not essentially mutually cont"a)icto"y#
"e-ui"ing the e,change o" "a)ical sac"ifice o" e$en con$e"sion of one to o&tain
the othe"( In anothe" *oem situate) in the home# Dickinson '"ites that >9ome
kee* the 9a&&ath going to Chu"ch# G I kee* it &y staying at :ome#> 'he"e
>Instea) of going to :ea$en at last G I!m going the"e all along(> C" again# in a
.. ED Reclusion
"ehan)ling of the image"y of guest an) host# Dickinson '"ites: >7he Infinite a
su))en =uest G :as &een assume) to &e %% G /ut ho' can that stu*en)ous
come G 8hich ne$e" 'ent a'ayF> (J 112D( 7he human 'o"l)# like the home
he"e# can &ecome an image fo" g"eate" )omains# "athe" than the *"ice *ai) fo"
them( :e"e continuity &et'een 'o"l)s# &et'een e,*e"ience an) meaning#
seems *ossi&le# as against the )iscontinuity of the "eclusi$e t"a)ition
)eman)ing eithe" 'o"l) o" =o)(
7hese in)ee) may &e a Dickinsonian "esolution# 'o"ke) th"ough the
$e"y image of "eclusion 'hich is so often the scene of t"emen)ous conflict(
DickinsonNs e,*e"ience "emains on the 'hole# ho'e$e"# one of )iscontinuity#
"u*tu"e# antithesis an) counte"claim &et'een histo"ical an) meta*hysical
"ealms conflicts 'hich she inte"naliAes in he" life an) 'o"k( Reclusion
"emains a *ie"cing $entu"e: to"n &y self%)i$ision# &y mutually e,clusi$e an)
hence agoniAing choices# in conflictual image"y an) com*le, accusation:
I took my <o'e" in my :an)
An) 'ent against the 8o"l)
!7'as not so much as Da$i) ha)
/ut I 'as t'ice as &ol)L
I aime) my <e&&le &ut 3yself
8as all the one that fell
8as it =oliah 'as too la"ge
C" 'as myself too smallF (J 542
7his *oem "estages *e"sistent te"ms: la"ge an) small4 "eligious
"efe"ence# he"e in the fo"m as "ecu"s often in Dickinson of &i&lical
commenta"y4 -uestions of gen)e"# of *"o&lems in t"ansfe" of autho"ity ac"oss
gen)e"e) lines( >:an)> may again e$oke '"iting( 3o"eo$e"# he" taking *o'e"
in he" han) may contest no"ms of he" *e"io) in 'hich 'omen 'e"e assigne)
to )omestic an) not *u&lic s*aces( In one sense "eclusion is sim*ly anothe"
.1 ED Reclusion
name fo" the nineteenth%centu"y cult of )omesticity( ?et# in this an) in)ee) in
any case# he" ><o'e"> is )i"ecte) >against the 8o"l)#> an o**osition an)
alienation that &es*eaks a )is*lacement f"om o" 'ithin the "ealms a"oun) he"(
Da$i)# as male &oth in acting *e"son an) as autho"iAe) &y =o)# can ha")ly
se"$e to autho"iAe he"( /i&lical he"o cannot &e he" mo)el4 no" can she
"e*"esent =o)# no" &e secu"e in o" of :is *"esence in he" 'o"l)( ?et neithe"
)oes she acce*t he"e sim*ly occlu)ing he"self# &ut )oes go out 'ith *o'e" in
han)( In this alienate) an) conflicte) state# Dickinson in the en) can )efeat
only he"self( 7he conflicts 'hich )i$i)e he" female an) male# this 'o"l) an)
the ne,t# e,te"io"ity an) inte"io"ity# e,*e"ience an) "e)em*tion# fin) neithe"
"esolution no" the *"omise of it in he" "eclusion# &ut only "eenactment(
+C7E9
1
Emily Dickinson: A Eoice of 8a" (+e' :a$en: ?ale Hni$e"sity <"ess# 1D044 <oet"y an) <u&lic Discou"se: 7he
Cam&"i)ge :isto"y of Ame"ican 5ite"atu"e Eol IE# e)( 9ac$an /e"co$itch# (+e' ?o"k: Cam&"i)ge Hni$e"sity
<"ess# .224( 7he -uestion of Dickinson!s not%*u&lishing has of cou"se att"acte) much notice( It seems clea" to
me that she coul) ha$e *u&lishe) easily if she ha) so chosen( +ot only 'e"e the"e among he" close
ac-uaintance *"ominent *u&lishe"s such as 9amuel /o'les# e)ito" of the 9*"ingfiel) Re*u&lican4 &ut :elen :unt
Jackson a**"oache) an) "e*"oache) he" "e*eate)ly to allo' he"self to *u&lish Dickinson!s *oems# e$en
anonymously(
.
;o" )iscussion see fo" e,am*le An)"e' 5outh# 7he C"igins of the Ch"istian 3ystical 7"a)ition (C,fo"): 7he
Cla"en)on <"ess# 1D01# **( 17%41(
1
9ee Etienne =ilson fo" the "ole of g"ace in Augustinian *hiloso*hy in 7he Ch"istian <hiloso*hy of 9t( Augustine
(5on)on: E( =ollancA# 1D61(
4
7he"e is a secon) co*y of 1076 in the ?ale /einecke 5i&"a"y# *"esente) to Dickinson &y 9usan =il&e"t
Dickinson fo" Ch"istmas4 &ut the ea"lie" co*y# 'hich 'as 9ue!s# 'as sha"e) &et'een them( 9ee Richa") 9e'all#
7he 5ife of Emily Dickinson Eol( II# (+?: ;a""a" 9t"aus an) =i"ou,# 1D74# *( 600# 6D.(
5
7homas a Bem*is# 7he Imitation of Ch"ist# (+?: <enguin# 1D7D# **( .0# 46 (citing John ,ii# .5# D7# 5D(
6
A Bem*is# **( .0# 60(
7
A Bem*is# **( 15# 5.(
0
7he *oem continues: >:o' )"ea"y to &e 9ome&o)y G :o' *u&lic like a ;"og(>
D
?$o" 8inte"s makes this c"anky "ema"k in In Defense of Reason (+?: 7he 9'allo' <"ess# 1D47(
12
Cf( 3ine to su**licate 3a)onnaL
If 3a)onna &e
Coul) &ehol) so fa" a C"eatu"e
Ch"ist omitte) 3e (J 640
11
Joanne ;ieht Diehl offe"s a fine )iscussion of am&i$alence in this *oem in he" Dickinson an) the Romantic
Imagination (<"inceton: <"inceton Hni$e"sity <"ess# 1D01# *( 1D( Am&i$alence in fact is 'i)ely an) 'ell
)iscusse) in Dickinson c"iticism# as in fo" e,am*le 9uAanne JuhasA# >Rea)ing Dickinson Dou&ly> 8omen!s
9tu)ies 1D0D .1.%..1(
1.
A Bem*is# *( 71( 7he ea"ly lette"s in *a"ticula" can &e li$ely# as fo" e,am*le 5 12: >7he *ath of )uty looks
$e"y ugly in)ee)# an) the *lace 'he"e I 'ant to go mo"e amia&le( ( ( it is so much easie" to )o '"ong than "ight#
so much *leasante" to &e e$il than goo)# I 'on)e" that goo) angels 'ee*# an) &a) ones sing songs(> I shoul)
"esist mentioning# &ut can!t# that these Dickinson lette"s a**ea"e) "ecently in a ci"cula" 'a"ning stu)ents against
i""e$e"ent lite"atu"e(
11
;o" a fulle" )iscussion of Dickinson!s meta*hysical c"iti-ue an) its )ilemmas# see 8olosky# >3eta*hysical
Re$olt> in Emily Dickinson: A Eoice of 8a" (+e' :a$en: ?ale Hni$e"sity <"ess# 1D04(
14
A Bem*is# **( .0# 67# D1(
15
A Bem*is# *( 1.(
16
8illiam Ross :a")ie offe"s an e,tensi$e )iscussion of A"istotle!s )i$ision &et'een acti$e an) contem*lati$e
ha**iness in A"istotle!s Ethical 7heo"ies# (C,fo"): the Cla"en)on <"ess# 1D60( 9ee also Anthony Benny# 7he
A"istotelian Ethics# (C,fo"): the Cla"en)on <"ess# 1D70(
17
7he cent"al meanings of li&e"ty a"e )iscusse) in# fo" e,am*le# James 3c<he"son!s /attle C"y of ;"ee)om (+?:
C,fo") Hni$e"sity <"ess# 1D00( ;o" its uses in Dickinson# see C"istanne 3ille"# ><on)e"ing !5i&e"ty!> Emily
Dickinson an) the Ci$il 8a"#> Ame"ican Eistas an) /eyon) e)( 3a"ietta 3essme" an) Josef Raa& (7"ie"#
=e"many: 8issenschaftliche" Ee"lag# .22.4 an) 8olosky# ><u&lic an) <"i$ate in Dickinson!s 8a" <oet"y#> A
:isto"ical =ui)e to Emily Dickinson# e)( Ei$ian <ollak# (+?: C,fo") Hni$e"sity <"ess# .224# 121%11.(
10
Just as a footnote one might *oint out that a Bem*is s*eaks of the >$anity to lo$e things that so s'iftly *ass
a'ay# an) not to hasten on'a")s to that *lace 'he"e e$e"lasting @oy a&i)es> (.04 an) u"ges to >Commune 'ith
you" o'n hea"t# an) in you" cham&e"# an) &e still#> citing <s i$(44 Isa( ,,$i# .2(